FAQ’s

Every parent and child has questions about The Magellan International School! Below are the most commonly asked questions, but please visit the Contact Us page for other questions that are not answered below to determine who is best to contact.

Communications and Events

Where will I find/how will I receive information about the school and my child's class?

Join Our Class – our school communications portal – contains detailed and customized school calendars, dashboard posts for important information, blogs for all grades, directories (student, parent, class, staff). Important school-wide announcements will be emailed through this system.

Volunteering

Classroom and school-wide volunteer opportunities available

Coordinated by Magellan International School Parent Association (MISPA). All volunteer opportunities are posted in JOC.

What happens at Meet the Teacher Day?

Parents and children visit their classroom, meet their teachers and other families

Parents receive the class schedule and other information about the class from the teachers; children will see their classroom, meet their teachers and other classmates

After School Activities: Sign up for after school activities with the vendors on site

Do I need to attend New Parent Orientations?

Each new student’s parent(s) must attend one of the Parent Orientation meetings offered each year. The information offered in those meetings is designed specifically for new parents and has additional information to this Q&A. Choose the date and time that is convenient for you. Only one representative per family must attend.

I’ve heard about Ambassador Families, but I don’t think I have one. What should I do?

Getting Started at Magellan

When do I find out which class my child is in?

Second week of August via email. At that time you may login to Join Our Class to view the class lists to find out which students are in your child’s class.

Class lists are determined by taking into account ages of children, a balance of gender, and in the older grades, a variety of factors including friendships, academic and social needs, etc. as indicated by the previous year’s teachers and, for new students, by information indicated on the application and in the interview.

What does my child need on the first day of school?

PP3 and PP4

Nap roll (a thin mat with an attached blanket and pillow). Nap rolls are placed on top of nap cots, which are provided by Magellan. A separate nap mat is not necessary. Nap cots are 54” long.

Complete change of clothes in a gallon-size, sealed plastic bag.

Water bottle and lunch (morning snack is provided by MIS). Water bottles will be refilled as needed throughout the day.

For PP4 only, a backpack large enough to hold a 9”x12” folder. PP3 students are welcome to bring a backpack if they would like, but do not need one.

Kindergarten – 8th grade

Water bottle and lunch.

Morning snack (optional).

Backpack large enough to hold a 9”x12” folder.

All school supplies, books, equipment, etc are provided by Magellan for all grades. The cost of supplies was included in the Educational Resource Fee.

You are welcome to send your child with a hat to wear outside.

We recommend you apply sunscreen to your child in the morning before school. If you would like your child’s teacher to reapply sunscreen during the school day, you will need to complete an Authorization of Medication form, which will need to be signed by a physician. This is state law.

What is the daily schedule?

Pre-Primary: PP3 and PP4 begin at 8:30am and ends at 3:00pm. Please arrive by 8:20.

The first three days of school for PP3 are optional half days (8:30am-12:00pm), parent’s discretion to assist with transition.

Primary: Kinder – 5th grade begin at 8:10am and end at 3:20 pm.

Middle School: 6th – 8th grade begin school at 8:10am and end at 4:00pm.

Do children at Magellan have nap time or rest time?

In PP3 and PP4, children are offered a 2 hour nap/rest time. If your child does not nap during this time, they are welcome to lie down quietly. Most PP3 children nap for much of this time. PP4 children rest for at least an hour and then may go outside after waking in order to not disrupt children who are still resting.

Kindergarten students are offered a brief 15-20 minute rest time after lunch and recess for the first 4-6 weeks of school.

How often do the kids get out of the classroom?

All classes every day have a morning recess of about 20 minutes and a longer lunch and recess of about 45 minutes.

Every class has PE twice a week.

Students in K-8th go to Art and Music in dedicated spaces—not their classroom.

Can my child celebrate his/her birthday at school?

The Parent Handbook explains what is allowed and what isn’t allowed. For example, cupcakes and sugary snacks are NOT allowed, but healthier snack options are acceptable, such as fruit, fruit bars, etc.

If you wish to celebrate your child’s birthday at school, please inform your child’s teacher at least 48 hours in advance. The teacher will inform you of any allergies or dietary restrictions and provide suggestions for acceptable snacks. Handbook for more information about birthday celebrations as well as food allowed at school for lunch and snacks.

Birthday invitations may be passed out at school provided that all children in the class receive an invitation. If only some children in the class will receive the invitation, we ask that you mail the invitations or send an Evite.

Where can I find Magellan uniforms?

PP3 – 5th grade students are required to wear a solid navy blue bottoms – skirt (with blue under shorts), shorts, skorts, leggings or pants – with light blue or yellow shirts. Students should wear khaki bottoms with navy blue shirts. Students may choose any design or fabric except for denim. Athletic shorts or pants are not allowed. Middle School students are required to wear solid khaki or navy bottoms. Athletic shorts or pants are not allowed.

Mandatory polo shirt (long or short sleeve) with the school’s embroidered logo. PP3 – 5th grade students may choose either dark blue, light blue or yellow to wear each day. 6th – 8th grade students must wear the Middle School cobalt blue. Girls of all grade levels may wear the navy polo dress with the school’s embroidered logo available through Land’s End. Our Preferred School ID is 900162108.

What is a spirit shirt?

All new students will receive a Magellan Spirit Shirt in August. These are provided by MISPA. If your child is a new student and has not received a Spirit Shirt, or needs a larger size, please contact MISPA.

Spirit shirts are worn on celebratory days, such as the Friday of each Cause Week or on special game days to support our athletics teams. These dates are indicated on the school calendar on JOC as Spirit Days. Teachers and Room Parents often remind students and parents of these days as well.

What kind of shoes should my child wear?

Closed toe and closed back shoes are required. All students must have tennis shoes (any color) on the days they have Physical Education (PE) classes.

When is picture day? What do students wear for picture day?

Individual student school portraits are taken in the Fall, and students do not need to wear their uniforms.

Class pictures are taken in the Spring, and students do wear their uniforms for class pictures.

Dates will be posted on the JOC calendar when they are scheduled with our photographer.

How many classes are in each grade?

The number of classes in Preschool and Primary School range from two to four, with most grades having three classes. In Middle School, there are two classes in 6th grade and one each in 7th and 8th grades in the 2017-2018 school year.

The school will have a total enrollment of approximately 450 students this school year.

How much interaction do students in different grades have? How much interaction do students in different classes in the same grade have?

Typically, recess periods are separate by grade, so that only one grade is on the playground at a time. All classes in each grade have lunch and recess at the same time.

All classes in a grade often take field trips together.

Classes take PE, Art, and Music separately, except for 7th and 8th grade who are together for specials classes.

Grades occasionally mix for assemblies and speakers and as Units of Inquiry encourage mentoring opportunities.

For how long are children taught cursive at Magellan?

In Kindergarten children are exposed to both print and cursive. Children have instructional time in cursive in first grade.

Starting in third grade, a child may choose to write in either print or cursive, and parent preference for print or cursive will be taken into consideration if requested.

Visiting and Volunteering at Magellan

What do I need to do if I come to campus to volunteer or visit?

Sign in at the School CheckIn station to receive a visitor sticker. Inform the receptionist of why you are there so he/she can escort or direct you to your destination. Please note that you will need a valid government ID to sign in.

When you are ready to leave campus, check out at the School CheckIn.

For classroom observation or to join your child for lunch, please coordinate with your teachers 24 hours in advance. This ensures space reserved at the lunch table and/or an adult seat for you in the classroom.

How do I volunteer at school?

MISPA, Room Parents and Lead Teachers will add volunteer assignments for each class in JOC. You can view and sign up for those opportunities under the “Events” and “Sign-Ups” tabs. Many opportunities exist across a wide spectrum of skills and time to allow all parents and special friends to give their time to enhance the Magellan experience for our students.

What does a Room Parent do? How can I become a Room Parent?

Classes typically have Room Parents to assists the teachers with curricular needs, such as exploring field trip options, finding guest speakers related to the unit of inquiry, and obtaining volunteers for the classroom. Room Parents are also responsible for building community among families in that class. This involves arranging playdates, informing families of local events related to the current unit that others might be interested in, etc.

During the first few weeks of school, the Room Parent Coordinator will invite parents to sign up to serve in this role. Room parents are assigned each year at the beginning of the school year after class lists are released.

Is there a Magellan PTA?

Magellan has the Magellan International School Parents Association, better known as MISPA. Information about getting involved can be found under the Parents tab at magellanschool.org. You can contact MISPA by emailing mispa@magellanschool.org.

Drop-Off, Pick-Up and Before/After School Options

Does Magellan offer early drop-off or after school care/activities for working families?

Early drop-off is available free of charge to all families beginning at 7:30am. You must walk your child into the building for early drop-off.

After School Care is available until 6:00pm every day. A variety of after school activities are offered throughout the year at both Chimney Corners and Anderson Lane including Intramural Sports. More information on both can be found here.

A child enrolled in After School Care may still participate in After School Activities.

Children enrolled in After School Care and/or After School Activities are escorted by their teachers to the locations of the after school activity or After School Care classroom.

If you have a child in both K-5 and MYP, you are welcome to wait at the tables in front of the school or on the playground until your MYP child is dismissed. Supervision of children not participating in after school care or activities is the responsibility of the parent outside of the school day hours.

What are the procedures for dropping off and picking up my child?

Chimney Corners

PP3 parents must walk their child to/from the classroom at dropoff/pickup and sign them in and out. Please park along the fence on the north side of the building and enter through the north gate (not through the main doors).

PP4 parents may park and walk their child into the building or may use the carline. The CC carline moves from north to south passing under the covered area in front of the main doors.

The drop off carline is available from 8:10-8:25am. The pick up carline is available from 3-3:10pm.

If you have a child in both PP3 and PP4, please walk your child into PP3 and then walk your other child to their PP4 classroom. You do not need to exit and re-enter the classroom.

Anderson Lane

The drop off carline is available from 7:50-8:05 am. The pick up carline is available from 3:20-3:30 pm.

Two carlines are available, organized by last name (A-G in the front carline, H-Z in the back carline). Children are greeted by teachers using the front or back doors of the building.

To use the pickup line at dismissal, place the carline form your child’s teacher gives you, which identifies your child and his/her class. This facilitates ease of pickup.

Your child will be released to a person who has the form in their dashboard or who is listed on the Authorization to Pickup form, completed prior to the first day of school. Staff will check the person’s ID against the form to ensure the person is authorized to pick up your child. If you would like to add an additional person to the list of who is authorized to pick up your child, you may do so in JOC.

If you need to pick up your child for a medical or other appointment during school hours, please go to the front desk, let the receptionist know, and the receptionist will retrieve your child for you. You will sign your child out. Upon return, you will sign them back in with the receptionist.

How many field trips do classes take each year?

PP3 do not take formal field trips. Instead, they have speakers and parents come to the classrooms.

PP4 classes take 2-3 field trips during the school year.

Kindergarten – 5th grades take an average of three field trips per year.

Middle school students take a more extensive overnight trips in the Spring as well as daily trips throughout the year.

Parent chaperones are needed on all field trips. The number of chaperones who can go on each field trip is typically limited. Your teacher will communicate with you about chaperone needs.

If you would like to chaperone a field trip, but would need to bring the student’s sibling with you, please discuss with the teacher whether this would be acceptable. It is not preferable, but is sometimes allowable depending on the nature of the field trip and the number of additional chaperones who will attend.